What is a private right of way?

A private right of way is the legal right to use or cross another person's property in order to access a second property or parcel, according to SFGate Home Guides. The right of way is a legal easement which is recorded on the property title, according to Zillow.

A typical private easement is a road or driveway through a portion of a property offering the only means of access to a second property, reports Zillow. When the owner of the second property is granted a private right of way, sometimes in exchange for compensation, it is recorded and persists even if the first property is sold.